Theftproof frame assembly

ABSTRACT

A theftproof frame assembly for pictures, mirrors, or the like wherein, in one embodiment, a mounting plate is formed with spring clips in its planar surface which cooperate with the frame assembly to hold the assembly in a mounted, locked position. In another embodiment, the frame assembly is similarly secured in operative position by a plurality of tabs formed on the periphery of the mounting plate.

United States Patent Bilodeau [541 THEFTPROOF FRAME ASSEMBLY [72]Inventor:

South River, NJ. 08882 221 Filed: Jan. 8, 1970 21 Appl.No.: 1,456

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[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Thomas J. Bilodeau, 5 WaterStreet,

1451 .Aug.8,1972

Primary Hammer-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-Wenceslao J.Contreras 4 Attorney- Gardner J. OBoyle and James G. O'Boyle 57ABSTRACT. A theftproof frame assembly for pictures, mirrors, or

the like wherein, in oneembodiment, a mounting plate is formed withspring clips in its planar surface which cooperate with the frameassembly to hold the assembly in a mounted, locked position. In anotherembodiment, the frame'assembly is similarly secured in operativeposition by a plurality of tabs formed on 3,251,151 5/1966Sherrill....,.'...' ..40/152 3,284,940 11/1966 Putrnan ..40/152.1penphery mummg plate 3,478,997 11/1969 Goss ..40/152 sclei snmwin n uresI2 I3 f 2 I g I 1@\ L/3 I I THEFIPROOFFRAMEASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION In many instances where wall-mounted pictures, mirrors, andthe like are located in rooms where the general public has free access,expensive problems have been encountered in replacing the mirrors orpictures which become lost or destroyed through theft, damage anddefacing. Various types of theftproof frame assemblies have beenproposed and while they have been satisfactory for their intendedpurpose, they have been subject to certain objections; for instance, thenecessity of employing special tools, keys and the like for mounting theframe assembly on the wall. In other arrangements where latch elementsare employed to secure the frame assembly to the wall, it has been foundthat the construction and arrangement of the latch assemblies are suchthat they may be easily destroyed to facilitate the removal of the frameassembly.

After considerable research and experimentation, two embodiments of atheftproof frame assembly of the present invention have been devised toovercome the disadvantages experienced in hitherto-employed theftproofframe assemblies; in one embodiment, a mounting plate is formed withspring clips in its planar surface which cooperate with the frameassembly to hold the frame assembly in a mounted, locked position. Inthe other embodiment, a plurality of tabs are formed on the periphery ofthe mounting plate which cooperate with the peripheral edge of the frameassembly to hold the assembly in a mounted, locked position.

In the drawings: I

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, front elevational .view of one embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional, side elevational view of the mounting plateemployed in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, sectional, side elevationalview of the frameassembly illustrated in FIG. 1 in the process of being mounted on themounting plate illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, sectional, side elevational view of the frameassembly illustrated in FIG. 3 showing the frame assembly in its lockedoperative position on the mounting plate;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of another embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional, side elevational view of the mounting plateemployed in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, sectional side elevational view of the frameassembly illustrated in FIG. 5, in the process of being mounted on themounting plate illustrated in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, sectional, side elevational view of the frameassembly illustrated in FIG. 7 showing the frame assembly in its locked,operative position on the mounting plate.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 4, anembodiment of the present invention is illustrated and comprises, amounting plate 1 adapted to be secured to a vertical support surfacesuch as a wall 2, through suitable screws 3. The upper edge of themounting plate is formed with a shoulder portion 4 which extends thewidth of the plate and the lower por- 2 tion of the plate is formed withan upwardly extending lip portion 5 which also extends the width of theplate. The shoulder portion 4 and lip 5 are employed for supporting themirror frame assembly to be described more fully hereinafter. A pair ofresilient spring clips or tabs 6 are provided on the mounting plate inproximity to the lip portion 5, and while these clips are illustrated asseparate pieces welded or otherwise secured to the planar surface of themounting plate, it will be ap pr'eciated by those skilled in the artthatif the mounting plate is fabricated from the same material as thespring.

clips, the clips could be formed integrally on the mounting plate bycutting the mounting plate to form tabs and then bending the tabs out ofthe plane of the mounting-plate.

The frameassembly which is adapted to be secured to the above-describedmounting plate comprises a channel member 7 extending around and securedto the periphery of a mirror through a suitable seal 9. The portionsof'the channel 7 which extend along the upper and lower edges of themirror are provided with laterally extending T-members 10 and 11 whichare integrally connected to one leg of the channel member 7. To completethe frame assembly, a rectangular frame member 12 including a pair ofupper and lower end members 13,14 connected to side members 15 extendsaround the periphery of the channel 7 and is secured thereto. The endmembers 13 and 14 are turned rearwardly at their outer edges to provideperipheral flange sections 16 and 17, having inwardly bent lip portions18 and 19. While not illustrated, flange sections, similar to flangesections 16 and 17, are also formed on the side members of the frame 12.

To mount the mirror assembly, the mounting plate 1 is first secured tothe wall 2 as shown in FIG. 2. The mirror assembly, including the frame12, mirror 8, channel 7 and T-members I0 and 11, is then positionedagainst the mounting plate as shown in FIG. 3 so that the lip portion 19of the frame engages the outer surface of the lip 5 on the lower'end ofthe mounting plate; the arm 11a of the T-member ll abuts the springclips 6 to bias them toward the plane of the mounting plate, and the arm10a of the T-member 10 is inserted partially into the shoulder 4 formedon the upper end of the mounting plate. The mirror assembly is thenmoved downwardly as viewed in FIG. 4 whereupon the arm 11a of theT-member 11 releases the spring clips; the arm 1 lb of the T-memberengages the inner surface of the lip portion 5 and the arm 10a of theT-member 10 is inserted completely into the shoulder 4 on the upper endof the mounting plate.

By the constructionand arrangement of the abovedescribed assembly, itwill be readily apparent that the spring clips 6 and lip portion 5 willprevent any attempt to remove the mirror assembly from the wall bymoving the assembly upwardly. Similarly, the side edges of the flangeportion 4 and lip portion 5 will engage the flange sections on the sidemembers of the frame 12 to prevent removal of the mirror assembly bymoving the mirror assembly in a lateral direction.

Another embodiment of the theftproof frame assembly of the presentinvention is illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 8 wherein the mounting plate 20includes a plurality of spaced, resilient tabs or lips 21 formed on theperiphery of the plate, and extending vertically from the plane of theplate, the peripheral edge of the plate having a plurality of slots 20'formed therein between the tabs 21, said slots extending into the bodyportion of the frame to therebyenhance the resiliency of the peripheraledge of the plate member whereby the peripheral edge will accommodateirregularities in the surface of the wall upon which the plate ismounted.

The tabs are adapted to engage a reversely bent lip portion 22 formed onthe end of a flange portion 23 extending around the peripheral edge of arectangular frame 24. The mounting plate-20 and frame 24 are adapted toenclose a mirror or picture 25 having a suitable backing 26.

To mount the frame assembly, the mounting plate 20 is first secured to awall 27 through suitable screws 28 extending through adjustment slots 29formed in the plate. The backing member 26 and mirror 25 are then placedin the mounting plate and the frame 24 is then placed on the assembly.The manner in which the frame 24 is secured to the mounting plate isillustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, wherein it will be seen that the frame 24is first held at an inclined position with the upper edge of the framepositioned in proximity to the wall so that the end of the lip 22engages the end of each tab 21 disposed on the upper edge of themounting plate. The lower end of the frame 24 is then moved in thedirection of the arrow toward the wall so that the end of the lip 22 onthe lower end of the frame engages the end of each tab 21 on the lowerend of the mounting plate, as shown in FIG. 8. When the lower end of theframe 24 is moved into locked position on the mounting plate 20, thesides of the frame will also be moved into locking engagement with thetabs 21 on the corresponding sides of the mounting plate.

By the construction and arrangement of the theftproof frame assemblyillustrated in FIGS. to 8, it will be readily apparent that thecooperation between the lip portion 22 of the frame and the tabs 21provides a locking engagement around the periphery of the frame 24 tothereby insure a positive locking of the frame assembly to the wall.

Iclaim:

1. A theftproof frame assembly of the character described for mountingpictures, mirrors and the like on a supporting surface such as a wall,comprising, mounting plate means adapted to be secured to a wall,resilient means carried by said mounting plate means, frame meansadapted to enclose the article to be mounted on the wall and cooperatingwith the mounting plate resilient means, whereby the frame means issecured to the mounting means; said frame means comprising a channelextending around the periphery of the article to be mounted on the wall,a T-member connected to one leg of the portion of the'channel extendingalong the upper edge of the article to be mounted, another T-memberconnected to the corresponding leg of the portion of the channelextending along the lower edge of the article to be mounted, and aframe'member extending around'and secured to the periphery of thechannel.

2. A theftproof frame assembly according to claim 1,

wherein the mounting plate means comprises a plate member, a shoulderportion formedon the upper edge of said plate member, and an upwardlyextending lip portion formed on the lower edge of said plate PR -theftproof frame assembly according to claim 2, wherein the resilientmeans comprises a pair of spring clips carried by themounting plate inproximity to th lip portion.

4. A theftproof frame assembly of the character described for mountingpictures, mirrors and the like on a supporting surface such as a wall,comprising a plate member adapted to be secured to a wall, a pluralityof spaced, resilient tabs formed on the upper, lower and side edges ofthe plate member, the space between each tab including a slot portionformed on the periphery of the plate and extending inwardly toward thebody portion thereof to thereby enhance the resiliency of the peripheraledge of the plate member,

whereby the peripheral edge of the plate member will accommodateirregularities'in the surface of the wall upon which the plate ismounted, and frame means adapted to enclose the article to be mounted onthe wall and cooperating with the mounting plate tabs,

- whereby the frame means is secured to the mounting

1. A theftproof frame assembly of the character described for mounting pictures, mirrors and the like on a supporting surface such as a wall, comprising, mounting plate means adapted to be secured to a wall, resilient means carried by said mounting plate means, frame means adapted to enclose the article to be mounted on the wall and cooperating with the mounting plate resilient means, whereby the frame means is secured to the mounting means; said frame means comprising a channel extending around the periphery of the article to be mounted on the wall, a T-member connected to one leg of the portion of the channel extending along the upper edge of the article to be mounted, another Tmember connected to the corresponding leg of the portion of the channel extending along the lower edge of the article to be mounted, and a frame member extending around and secured to the periphery of the channel.
 2. A theftproof frame assembly according to claim 1, wherein the mounting plate means comprises a plate member, a shoulder portion formed on the upper edge of said plate member, and an upwardly extending lip portion formed on the lower edge of said plate member.
 3. A theftproof frame assembly according to claim 2, wherein the resilient means comprises a pair of spring clips carried by the mounting plate in proximity to the lip portion.
 4. A theftproof frame assembly of the character described for mounting pictures, mirrors and the like on a supporting surface such as a wall, comprising a plate member adapted to be secured to a wall, a plurality of spaced, resilient tabs formed on the upper, lower and side edges of the plate member, the space between each tab including a slot portion formed on the periphery of the plate and extending inwardly toward the body portion thereof to thereby enhance the resiliency of the peripheral edge of the plate member, whereby the peripheral edge of the plate member will accommodate irregularities in the surface of the wall upon which the plate is mounted, and frame means adapted to enclose the article to be mounted on the wall and cooperating with the mounting plate tabs, whereby the frame means is secured to the mounting plate along its entire periphery.
 5. A theftproof frame assembly according to claim 4, wherein the frame means comprises a frame member extending around the periphery of the article to be mounted, a flange portion formed on said frame member, and a lip portion formed on said flanGe portion, said lip portion engaging the tabs formed on the upper, lower and side edges of the mounting plate to thereby secure the frame member to the mounting plate. 